Burnley grandfather secures new inquest into brother's 1994 death

A Burnley grandfather, who has battled for justice for his brother who died over 30 years ago, is finally hoping for answers.

A new inquest into the death of Anthony Whittle, who died in 1994 at the age of 30, will be held in October, thanks to relentless campaigning by his brother Christopher.

“This is something I’ve been compelled to do for my brother and for my parents who are no longer here, I’m the only one left who could make this happen,” said Christopher (65).

The new two day hearing will take place at the coroner’s court in Caenarfon, Gwynedd in October after the Attorney General granted Christopher’s appeal.

The grandfather of three hopes the new inquest will look more closely at how Anthony came to die all those years ago.

Christopher, who has suffered from a range of health issues which forced him to take early retirement, said: “I have waited for this day for a long time and it has taken its toll on my family. I just feel sad that my parents aren’t here to see this.”

Anthony, fell to his death from a road bridge, after escaping from a supposedly secure mental health unit in North Wales while he was experiencing a psychotic episode.

The original inquest, which took place three months later, returned an open verdict, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to decide how Anthony's death had come about.

Christopher, who lives with his wife Deborah, who is manager of the dementia unit at Dove Court in Burnley, hopes the new inquiry will examine how Anthony was able to escape from the secure Hergest Psychiatric Unit in Bangor and what action the hospital and police took to locate him. He has managed to secure legal aid for the hearing and has praised his ‘amazing ‘ legal team.

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which took over responsibility for the Hergest Unit in 2009, has said it will fully cooperate with the new inquest into Anthony’s death.

The brothers, who were both adopted from the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society, by their parents Robert and Genevieve, attended St John’s RC Primary and the former St Theodore’s RC High schools. Anthony was a keen amateur boxer and rugby player at Calder Vale Sports Club in Burnley.

And he was was part of the team from St Theodore’s that won the Lancashire Cup in 1979.

Anthony suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety and was later diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia. He had been studying forestry at the University of Bangor when he died.

In a poignant salute to his brother after the inquest Christopher is planning to follow in the last steps Anthony took on a memorial walk in North Wales, from Llandigai to the Las Ogwen bike trail and on to Tregarth in support of MIND. Anyone who wishes to make a donation can do so at the following three churches in Burnley, St Mary’s RC in Yorkshire Street, Christ the King or St John’s in Ivy Street.